Ground Zero Mosque Seeks Money From 9/11 Fund

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation was created by Mayor Giuliani and Governor Pataki in the aftermath of 9/11, to “ensure Lower Manhattan recovers from the attacks and emerges even better than it was before,” as their mission statement has it.

Guess who applied for a $5 million grant under the LMDC Community and Cultural Enhancement Program?That’s right: Park51, the group that wants to build its Cordoba House mosque and cultural center near Ground Zero.If the grant request is honored, Americans in all fifty states will get to become investors in Cordoba House, right alongside people who donate money to Hamas “charities.”

This move has sparked considerable outrage from opponents of the mosque.Fox News quotes Representative Peter King (R-NY) as saying, “It is entirely wrong for any taxpayer money to be used to fund the Ground Zero mosque.This is particularly true when it is being done in such a secretive way.This just further offends the memory of all those who were murdered on September 11th.”

Proponents of the mosque say there is no reason to listen to its detractors, since they are just trying to drum up political support from bigots for the 2010 midterm elections, as current NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg suggested, and should be “ashamed of themselves.”They should be even more ashamed now that the 2010 midterm elections are over, and they’re still trying to drum up support.They could turn violent at any moment, like opponents of ObamaCare, blamed by Bloomberg for the attempted Times Square bombing before it was discovered to be the work of an Islamic terrorist.Perhaps Nancy Pelosi was right, and these sinister anti-mosque forces should be investigated.We certainly can’t ask any questions about the Park51 organization.That would be rude.

Park51 has always maintained the purpose of the Cordoba House project is to foster unity and understanding.They obviously don’t understand much about the people they’re lecturing, if they thought applying for a federal grant from the 9/11 reconstruction agency was a good idea.There would be no greater act of submission for the strong majorities who oppose construction of the mosque than being forced to pay for it.

Mosque proponents like Bloomberg should be asked to explain why the Cordoba House project should not enjoy federal funding.Their request appears to have met LMDC guidelines.If they’re a harmless and welcome part of New York’s gorgeous mosaic, and their mosque would be a gesture of respect for the victims of 9/11, then why shouldn’t it receive federal funding, along with the shopping centers and restaurants of lower Manhattan?President Obama has spoken passionately on every conceivable side of this controversy, so we should get his opinion on federal funding, too.I’m sure it would be fascinating.

It’s time for everyone who supports the construction of the Cordoba House mosque to put their mouths where our money is.Tell us why this project, in this spot, from this organization is a good idea.If so, why shouldn’t we all chip in to fund it, the way our massive government expects us to fund everything it finds virtuous?I’m sure Park51 could really use that five million bucks, to free up their own money for other purposes.Those Hamas charities aren’t going to fund themselves, you know.